The Mission
A project tasked to solicit and accept donations to provide financial grants to selected college-bound Pilipino students who have been accepted by government accredited colleges/universities in the Philippines and who have limited or no financial means to enroll in those institutions.
Each student shall be known as "Iskolar ng Mekong Circle," though donors who sponsor a student's for the entire course of study, at their discretion, may append a title (e.g., Iskolar ng Mekong Circle sponsored by Juan de la Cruz).
The Commitee
Marie Aguilos
Evelyn & Boni Alon
Joy & Bac Bacordo
Becky & Tom Ciborski
Pol Custodio
Puring & Raul de Jesus
Edith & Red del Rosario
Pet & Pete Fuentecilla
Feli & Joe Guevarra
Ciony & Ken Ljungar
Anita & Bik Marquez
Linda Masibay
Linda & Cesar Mendoza
B.J. Reyes
Cora & Tony Sazon
Chabeng Fajardo Swift
Conse Sotio
Vilma Valenzuela
Fenny & Tony victa
The Iskolar ng Mekong Committee is the governing body of the project and is responsible for providing the guiding philosophy, formulating and executing plans for fund solicitations, selecting grant recipients, acting as mentors for the Iskolars ng Mekong Circle and safeguarding/disbursing funds.
A simple majority vote (50 percent of committee membership plus one) will carry a motion. (A husband-wife is considered a single vote.)
The Grant
The committee must approved each grant.
The standard grant is up to US $400 per year to cover tuition and other school expenses for a normal four- or five-year undergraduate course of study. The amount of the grant will be periodically reviewed and may be revised by the committee to account for an increase in cost of living.
A grant for a longer duration and/or for more than US $400 per year (or the standard amount adjusted to account for increase in cost of living), for a specialized course, for example, may also be approved by the committee. A specific course of study may also be stipulated by the committee or by a sponsor who commits to fund the entire course of study.
The commitment of any grant, notwithstanding prior approval by the committee, shall be made only when the total amount required for four or five years of study or that period approved by the committee is on hand or has been secured.
The grant shall be disbursed in yearly installments via checks or electronic transfers; before the start of each school year.
The Selection Process
The committee shall select the recipient organizations, which already have established educational assistance programs, to administer the financial grants.
The recipient organizations will initiate the screening of candidates (the process may include, among others, a case study comprised of home visits and an evaluation of the cultural, psychological, emotional and financial states of the candidate and his ability to pursue college work).
The recipient organizations will submit to the committee a list of qualified students and a financial budget for each student, from which the grantees will be selected.
It is the responsibility of the grant administrators to provide the committee a progress report on each grant recipient, particularly on matters that affect his/her compliance with the terms of the grant.
The Recipients
Grant recipients must:
-be a Pilipino who has been accepted by any of the government accredited colleges/universities in the Philippines; and, who has limited or no financial means to enroll.
-be of good moral character and a law abiding citizen.
-be engaged in some form of community service.
-carry a full academic load each semester in order to graduate within the normally prescribed time frame.
-maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 80% or its equivalent, with no single incomplete grade. (These requirements may be modified due to special circumstances attendant to the grantee).
-not have been a subject of any grave disciplinary action by the college/university.
-write to or communicate with his mentor (when provided by the committee), at least once a year and provide complete information that may be requested.
Non-compliance with any of the above conditions may result in the immediate withdrawal of the grant.
The Funds
Donations to the Iskolar ng Mekong Circle fund are deductible for federal income tax purposes. An acknowledgement letter, which also serves as a supporting document for tax filing purposes, will be mailed to each donor, signed by the treasurer of Mekong Circle International.
Any remaining funds previously set aside for a student whose grant was withdrawn will revert back to the common pool. The eventual disposition of these funds will be determined by the committee.
A separate bank account specific to this project shall be maintained in a U.S. bank. Any undisbursed funds, both committed and not, will remain deposited in this account.
A report, on a regular basis, of financial transactions (e.g. grants disbursed, donations received, expenses, etc.) shall be made public primarily via www.mekongcircle.org
Donors
The committee and recipients of the lskolar ng Mekong Circle program would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude for the generosty of donors:
Marie Aguilos **
Fe S. Casher
Rebecca Ciborski
Puring & Raul de Jesus **
Edith & Red del Rosario **
Helen & Bayani Domingo
Pet & Pete Fuentecilla
Pat Tesoro Gonzales
Rusty Gotico
Denis Hebreo
Estrella & Gene Hernandez
Dickie Labao
Vic Lagleva
Amphie Malolos
Anita & Bik Marquez **
Linda Masibay
Mario Morales
Henry Nano
Cora Ortiz
Jojo Pablo
Sallie Pablo
Edith & Pete Palu-ay
Teddy Parreno
Cora & Tony Sazon **
Conse Sotio **
Sabina Fajardo Swift **
Vilma Valenzuela **
Fenny & Tony Victa **
Minerva Will
(** denotes yearly contributors)
Accounting
Fund balance as of June 4, 2007: $2,830
Donations received:
2006: $2,550
2005: 1,165
2004: 3,090
2003: 1,800
Total receipts: $8,605
Donations to taghanang paghubog:
2006-07: 3,000 ck 5008
2005-06: 1,500 ck 5007
2004-05: 1,200 ck 5006
Bank charges: $75
Total disbursements: $5,775
~~~
Past Recipients
Mary Grace Andes
Born in Real, Quezon, 18 years ago, she is finishing her first
year in computer science studies at Samson College.
Mari Ruth Alkonga
Born in San Dionisio, Iloilo City, her mother left her to the
care of her maternal grandparents. She is finishing her first
year in computer science studies at Samson College.
Julie Castillo
From Taguig, Manila, she is in her second year of studying
computer science at ICCT.
Rona Quijano
From Mandaluyong, she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in
education at Rizal Technical Institute.
A note from a graduate of our Iskolar Ng Mekong, April 16,2007
Dear Mekong Group:
I, Leana Rose C. Viclar, a graduate student of Samson College of Science and Technology want to thank you for all the support that you have given me. Without your help, I will not reach what I am right now. As of now, I’m working at Gigahertz Computer System as a Sales Technician. Thank you so much and more power! God bless you all.
